Can a van with added seats pass vehicle inspection?
Not only did the van fail its vehicle inspection, but those who illegally modified their vehicles by adding extra rear seats were also fined by traffic police when detected while driving on the road.
Mr. Bui The Yen (Hoa Binh) asks: "My family's van has an added rear seat. When I went for vehicle inspection, I folded it down, but it still failed the inspection. Why?"
Regarding this issue, Mr. Tran Quoc Hoan - Deputy Director of Vehicle Inspection Center 29 - 03V - said that currently, it is very common for many van owners to modify their vehicles by adding extra seats in the back. A two-seater vehicle is transformed into a four or five-seater.
When going for vehicle inspection, many people often try to "circumvent" the regulations by folding down the seats to pass the inspection.
According to Mr. Hoan, the revised National Standard "Road Transport Vehicles - Automobiles - Classification by Purpose of Use" TCVN 7271:2003, states that VAN trucks have the following characteristics: A closed, integrated cargo compartment with a passenger compartment; a partition and/or fixed barrier separating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment; no structures or connections for installing seats, seat belts, air conditioning controls, ashtrays, cup holders, etc., are provided in the cargo compartment area.
Circular 43/2023 amends and supplements Circular 85/2014 on the modification of motor vehicles, stipulating: It is prohibited to modify other types of vehicles into passenger vehicles and vice versa, except for the modification of passenger vehicles with 16 seats or fewer into VANs.
Adding extra seats will lead to changes in the structure and layout of the vehicle's cabin, and also poses a potential safety risk by affecting the driver's ability to operate the vehicle and observe their surroundings.
Therefore, this type of vehicle is not allowed to have additional rear seats installed. If discovered, it will result in a fine.
According to Lawyer Dinh Thi Chuc from the Hanoi Bar Association, Article 55 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates that vehicle owners are not allowed to arbitrarily change the structure, components, or systems of their vehicles in a way that deviates from the manufacturer's design or a modification design approved by a competent authority. Decree 100/2019 also stipulates a fine of 6-8 million VND for individuals and 12-16 million VND for organizations that own automobiles, tractors, specialized vehicles, and similar types of vehicles that modify other automobiles into passenger vehicles.
